Panthers' Wesley suspended for hit on punt

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Kansas City offense appears in disarray

Brodie Croyle kept getting hurt and Tyler Thigpen seemed ill-suited for an NFL offense, so the Kansas City Chiefs traded for Matt Cassel and gave him a guaranteed $28 million contract before the first snap.

Now Cassel is hurt, Croyle is healthy and Thigpen is probably still ill-suited. But Cassel injured a knee in Saturday's exhibition loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and the Chiefs may be down to Croyle and Thigpen, who are a combined 1-18 as NFL starters.

The decision will be up to coach Todd Haley, who stirred his team's murky waters even further on Monday by firing Chan Gailey as offensive coordinator and assuming the role himself, just 13 days before opening his first season as a head coach.

Wesley ejected for hit on Smith

For a second straight week, the Carolina Panthers' punt-return team was involved in a bizarre play. But this one, near the end of the first half of Carolina's 28-21 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, didn't go the Panthers way.

Sunday, Carolina's Dante Wesley drilled Tampa Bay returner Clifton Smith -- who Wesley said hadn't called for a fair catch -- before he caught the ball. Wesley was ejected from the game and Smith didn't return either after sustaining a concussion.

Angry Tampa Bay players charged Wesley and surrounded him after the play. As Wesley's teammates ran to help, a bench-clearing fight appeared to be unfolding. But things quickly cleared up.

Pennington done for the season

The Miami Dolphins made it official: Chad Pennington is out for the season.

Pennington was placed on the reserve-injured list to create a roster spot for quarterback Tyler Thigpen, acquired Tuesday from the Kansas City Chiefs for an undisclosed draft pick.

Pennington probably will face a third operation on his right shoulder since 2005. He was hurt in a loss Sunday to the Chargers at San Diego that left Miami at 0-3.

Panthers get mixed reviews

Staff writer Charles Chandler looks back at a roller-coaster NFL season for the Carolina Panthers and looks ahead to an offseason that could produce significant changes:

QUARTERBACKS

2009 review: The passing game struggled until late season. Jake Delhomme threw a career-high 18 interceptions and admits he pressed at times. Matt Moore was 4-1 as a starter after Delhomme's finger injury. Moore threw for seven touchdowns and no interceptions in the final three games, finally giving the Panthers the passing game they needed to complement their running attack.

Another knee injury sidelines Falcons' Jerry

Falcons first-round pick Peria Jerry missed time in minicamp with a right knee injury.

He left the season opener with a chest injury.

The defensive tackle from Ole Miss was hurt again Sunday, and this time it may be more serious.